Monroe Monitor » bart dalmassohttp://www.monroemonitor.com
The voice of The Sky Valley since 1899Thu, 30 Jul 2015 21:03:12 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Dalmasso seeks Sultan City Council seat, hopes to cut city costshttp://www.monroemonitor.com/2015/07/28/dalmasso-seeks-sultan-city-council-seat-hopes-to-cut-city-costs/
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2015/07/28/dalmasso-seeks-sultan-city-council-seat-hopes-to-cut-city-costs/#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 16:44:45 +0000http://www.monroemonitor.com/?p=14601People might not imagine that Bart Dalmasso would have a whole lot in common with Russell Wiita. Dalmasso is a 75-year-old real estate broker. Wiita is a 21-year-old college student looking forward to his upcoming graduation. But as it turns out, both have their sights set on Sultan City Council Position No. 4. Dalmasso, a [...]

Bart Dalmasso, 75, is a real estate broker and a long time political actor in Sultan. He is running against 21-year-old Russell Wilta for City Council Position No. 4., which Sarah Davenport is leaving.Photo by Chris Hendrickson

People might not imagine that Bart Dalmasso would have a whole lot in common with Russell Wiita. Dalmasso is a 75-year-old real estate broker. Wiita is a 21-year-old college student looking forward to his upcoming graduation.

But as it turns out, both have their sights set on Sultan City Council Position No. 4.

Dalmasso, a lifelong Washingtonian, has lived and done business in the Sky Valley since the early 1980s. He served a five-year stint on Sultan’s planning commission and founded two separate Toastmaster’s groups, one in Monroe and one in Sultan. In his capacity as a real estate broker, he has negotiated property transactions for the city, including Sultan’s Visitor’s Information Center and the Sultan Skate Park; negotiations that he was willing to handle at no additional cost to the city.

He helped facilitate the mural project on the side of the Visitor’s Information Center, contributing to the project and advocating for an image of local resident Sandy Delvecchio to be incorporated into the art. In the mural, Delvecchio is shown driving the centennial train.

“She was quite involved in local stuff,” Dalmasso said. “I felt she deserved to be up there and I knew she didn’t have the money.”

He loves the sense of community in Sultan, which has often been referred to as “big heart, little city.”

“The beauty of Sultan is the people that live here,” Dalmasso said. “The people here are fantastic,”

Should he be elected, Dalmasso’s primary objectives would be to find ways to lower the cost of Sultan city government and to settle the misappropriation of funds lawsuit against the city, of which he is one of the plaintiffs. Brought against the city by a group called the Utility Stakeholders Group, the lawsuit alleges that the city utilized money from its garbage, water and sewer funds to pay for the day-to-day operations of the city, which is illegal.

“It’s a class action suit,” Dalmasso said. “We’re doing it for the benefit of the whole community, not just ourselves.”

Dalmasso has aligned himself with fellow candidates Al Wirta, Ray George and Kay George, who are all affiliated with the Stakeholders Group. Councilmember Bob McCarty, who was elected in 2013, is also a member of the Stakeholders Group and is named on the lawsuit.

One of the ways the group hopes to accomplish cost reduction is through the privatization of the city’s garbage service, which they feel would result in cost savings that could be passed along to the residents.

Although the city recently purchased a new garbage truck and implemented a revised garbage collection system, Dalmasso is hopeful that he could help reverse that action by selling the truck and the new garbage totes back to a private garbage service provider.

“We would probably negotiate with the company for them to buy the truck as part of the deal, and to buy the totes and everything else,” Dalmasso said.

The privatization of the garbage service could also influence another area of concern, which is related to the staffing costs at city hall. Dalmasso said that it’s possible that the change in garbage service could necessitate a workforce reduction, which is not an optimal result, but one that could help curb costs in the long run. Although it’s speculation at this point, the deal could work out better for the employees, said Dalmasso.

“The garbage truck drivers would probably be hired by the garbage company because they’re familiar with the routes,” Dalmasso said. “They know the area and they’re familiar with the equipment and everything.”

In hopes of stimulating economic growth, he would work to make sure that business license regulations are equitably defined and would examine the city’s permitting processes to ensure that they are conducive to economic growth. Dalmasso has a vision of commercial development on the west end of town, which to him would have a greater chance at success than something located to the east.

“I would probably make a concentrated effort to try to go out and find a large attraction for this community whether it be an amusement park, a casino or a large retail outlet,” Dalmasso said. “We have no real selection of merchandise in this community.”

Dalmasso said that while he respects Wiita and respects his family, his own life experience brings something to the table that youth does not. He has been fond of the Ronald Reagan quote, “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

Reagan, who 73 at the time, made the comment in jest during the 1984 presidential debate, after being asked if he was too old to be president. To Dalmasso, 75 is not too old to lower the cost of city government and advocate for positive growth and development.

“My concern when I get elected is to look out for the people that live here and to make sure that they’re getting the best they can get for the money they’re spending,” Dalmasso said. “And to hopefully cut the expenses.”

This will be Dalmasso’s fourth attempt at winning a seat on the council. He ran against Steve Slawson in 2005, Joe Neigel in 2011 and Marianne Naslund in 2013. He created a media stir in 2010 when he lead an effort to disincorporate the city, an effort that he says was simply a way to reduce expenses and improve resident quality of life.

Council Position No. 4 is currently occupied by Sarah Davenport-Smith, the only incumbent not seeking reelection this term.

]]>http://www.monroemonitor.com/2015/07/28/dalmasso-seeks-sultan-city-council-seat-hopes-to-cut-city-costs/feed/0A race of extremes for Sultan council seathttp://www.monroemonitor.com/2015/06/02/a-race-of-extremes-for-sultan-council-seat/
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2015/06/02/a-race-of-extremes-for-sultan-council-seat/#commentsTue, 02 Jun 2015 17:25:14 +0000http://www.monroemonitor.com/?p=14120He first entered politics while still in high school as the Sultan High School student representative on the Sultan City Council. Now, four years later, 20-year-old Russell Wiita is taking things up a notch; in November, he will face off against opponent Bart Dalmasso for Sultan City Council Position No. 4. While the Sky Valley [...]

He first entered politics while still in high school as the Sultan High School student representative on the Sultan City Council. Now, four years later, 20-year-old Russell Wiita is taking things up a notch; in November, he will face off against opponent Bart Dalmasso for Sultan City Council Position No. 4.

While the Sky Valley has had some young candidates in the past, Wiita is likely one of the youngest. Former Gold Bar Mayor Crystal Hill-Pennington, who was first appointed to the Gold Bar City Council when she was 25, was subsequently elected mayor at 26. Former Sultan City Councilmember Ken Marshall was about 30 when he was appointed in 2011. Marshall served for two years before losing his bid for election against opponent Bob McCarty in 2013.

Wiita, a lifelong Sky Valley resident, will turn 21 in July.

“I think there’ll be people who say that I’m too young,” Wiita said. “But I see it more as an advantage.”

Political experience

In addition to serving as Sultan City Council’s student representative, Wiita has been politically engaged in several different capacities, including serving as class president at Sultan High School and serving on the Sky Valley Teen Court, a program founded by former VOA Director Dave Wood to steer low-level offenders away from traditional criminal justice pathways.

He was a part of Mayor Carolyn Eslick’s Blue Ribbon Committee, which was implemented to support efforts to rebuild the Sultan Boys & Girls Club after it burned down in 2010. As a senior, raised more than $3,500 to bring the anti-bullying campaign, Rachel’s Challenge, to Sultan High School.

Currently a senior at the University of Washington (UW), Wiita just completed a four-month legislative internship in Olympia, where he worked for 39th District Reps. Dan Kristiansen and Elizabeth Scott and 15th District Rep. Dave Taylor. During his time at the UW, he has been involved with the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW), including serving on the student senate.

Additionally, Witta has spent time lobbying on behalf of UW students in Olympia, advocating for affordable tuition and quality education. He will graduate this fall with a bachelor of arts degree in political science.

A worthy opponent

Wiita’s opponent, Dalmasso, served on Sultan’s Planning Commission for five years and has sought election to the Sultan City Council three times previously.

A lifelong resident of Washington, 75-year-old Dalmasso has lived in the Sky Valley since the early 1980s. He owns a real estate brokerage on Main Street in downtown Sultan.

“While my opponent is a nice, young man from a good local family, he lacks experience for this job,” Dalmasso said. “To quote Ronald Reagan, ‘I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.’”

But on the topic of his age, Wiita has a different perspective.

“While I am younger than your average candidate, I think my resume speaks for itself. My involvement as student representative on the City Council, as well as my community involvement, has given me the experience and ability to look after the best interests of my friends and neighbors,” Wiita said.

As student representative, Wiita engaged interactively with the youth in the community, working to advocate for the student body he represented by giving them a voice. He conducted a survey and assimilated the data to determine what the youth in Sultan wanted from city government.

Political plans

If elected to the Sultan City Council, Wiita plans to zero in on public safety, transparency and accountability of city government, community engagement and economic development. He feels that there could be some merit in taking a comprehensive look at the city’s permitting processes and fee schedules to make sure that processes are streamlined and accommodating to potential incoming businesses.

He wants to look particularly at manufacturing businesses, like Romac Industries and Werner Paddles, which have successfully operated out of Sultan for years.

“I think that Sultan’s an inexpensive area to operate something like that, as compared to Everett or Seattle,” Wiita said. “So I think that that could be an opportunity for jobs.”

Wiita responded to concerns that citizens have voiced over the salary levels at Sultan City Hall. During a series of public meetings held last summer, some residents were worried that because of high staff salaries, the city was mis-prioritizing things like public safety. Wiita asserted that the city’s longterm financial success is contingent upon having staff who can be relied on to provide expertise when it comes to municipal policy.

“The reason that we have to pay a competitive salary is to attract candidates that know what they’re doing,” Wiita said. “They need to be well-versed in not only city policies but county, state and federal policies.”

“We’re a city of almost 5,000. Seattle’s got, I believe, close to 700,000 people, but those regulations on how we build projects apply the same,” he continued. “So we really need top-level staff that is qualified and well-versed in these kinds of policies so that we’re following the rules and not opening ourselves up to lawsuits down the road.”

In addition to government transparency, community engagement and economic growth, public safety is one of Wiita’s top priorities. If elected, he plans to closely examine the specifics of Sultan’s contract with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office to ensure that Sultan residents are getting the most for their tax dollars. He wants to make sure that officers assigned to the City of Sultan aren’t focusing their efforts patrolling areas of unincorporated Snohomish County like Startup, Ben Howard Road and Old Owen Road.

“If we have officers assigned to Sultan patrolling those areas, that’s not the taxpayers of Sultan,” Wiita said. “I think a lot of the residents of Sultan would expect that if we’re paying officers from the sheriff’s office to be patrolling Sultan that they’re going to stay within city limits.”

He feels that increased perception of proactive law enforcement within the common areas of the city is crucial.

“I know when I drive around Sultan, I don’t see the sheriff’s deputies a lot,” Wiita said. “If there’s a perception that the officers aren’t out there, which it sounds like there is that perception, then I think that paves the way for there to be more crime.”

The Monroe Monitor and Valley News will continue its election coverage with additional information on each candidate. For more information on Russell Wiita, visit www.facebook.com/RussellForSultan?fref=ts.

]]>http://www.monroemonitor.com/2015/06/02/a-race-of-extremes-for-sultan-council-seat/feed/0Preliminary numbers show neck-and-neck races in Sultanhttp://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/11/12/preliminary-numbers-show-neck-and-neck-races-in-sultan-2/
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/11/12/preliminary-numbers-show-neck-and-neck-races-in-sultan-2/#commentsTue, 12 Nov 2013 19:12:00 +0000http://www.monroemonitor.com/?p=5860By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor A few of the Sultan City Council candidates gathered at J.D. Slicks on election night, anxiously awaiting the unofficial election results. At just after 8:20 p.m., the preliminary numbers were in. A week later, two of the races are still too close to call. Although turnout initially looked weak, as mail-in [...]

A few of the Sultan City Council candidates gathered at J.D. Slicks on election night, anxiously awaiting the unofficial election results. At just after 8:20 p.m., the preliminary numbers were in. A week later, two of the races are still too close to call. Although turnout initially looked weak, as mail-in ballots were counted, it strengthened to a respectable 44 percent in the upper valley.

CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 1

On election night, Incumbent Ken Marshall was in the lead with 49.89 percent, or 217 votes, and Bob McCarty was close behind him at 49.2 percent, or 214 votes.

That outcome reversed itself by Friday, when McCarty pulled ahead. He now has 441 votes to Marshall’s 427. If the candidates are separated by one half of one percent or less, a machine recount will be automatic. At last count, they are separated by 14 votes; if that number shrinks to five, there will be a recount.

CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 2

John Seehuus ran unopposed and is at 95.62 percent, or 349 votes.

CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 3

Rocky Walker is hanging on to a slim lead with 50.62 percent, or 452 votes. Incumbent Kay George is right behind him at 48.60 percent, or 434 votes. This race, too, is only separated by a handful of votes, and should the gap narrow, could also go to a recount.

CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 6

Marianne Naslund is in the lead at 54.51 percent, or 477 votes. Write-in votes were counted at 26.63 percent, or 233 votes. Bart Dalmasso ran as the write-in candidate for this seat.

Geoffrey Evans, who dropped from the race too late to have his name removed from the ballot, still received 18.86 percent, or 165 votes.

FIRE DISTRICT 5 COMMISSIONER POSITION 2

Brian Copple ran unopposed.

The next update will be posted on the Snohomish County Auditor’s website on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. The race will be certified Nov. 26.

“For now I am delighted in the initial numbers that have come in on election night,” said Marianne Naslund. “I will anxiously monitor the Snohomish County Auditor’s website over the next couple of days to see where the dust settles in the very close race between Rocky Walker and Kay George for Position 3 and Ken Marshall and Bob McCarty for Position 1.”

GOLD BAR MAYOR

In the race to replace Joe Beavers as mayor of Gold Bar, Linda Loen appears to be the clear victor with 54 percent of the vote. Because there was no primary in the race, as there were no candidates, three names appear on the ballot. Larry Dum has 14 percent of the vote, and Elizabeth LaZella has 28 percent.

GOLD BAR CITY COUNCIL

There were no contested races, so Thomas Palmer will be new to the council this year, and Lee Hodo and Davi Martin will return.

]]>http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/11/12/preliminary-numbers-show-neck-and-neck-races-in-sultan-2/feed/0Election 2013: Sultan City Council Position #3, Marianne Naslund vs. Bart Dalmassohttp://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/election-2013-sultan-city-council-position-3-marianne-naslund-vs-bart-dalmasso/
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/election-2013-sultan-city-council-position-3-marianne-naslund-vs-bart-dalmasso/#commentsTue, 08 Oct 2013 19:44:15 +0000http://www.monroemonitor.com/?p=5316By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor There is less than a month to go until November’s election and Sultan candidates have been busy erecting signs, launching internet campaigns and participating in forums. The Sultan City Council has three contested races this term, Position 3 of which is being sought by Marianne Naslund and Bart Dalmasso. Dalmasso is [...]

Marianne Naslund (left) and Bart Dalmasso are both seeking Sultan City Council Position #3, Dalmasso as a write-in candidate.

By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor

There is less than a month to go until November’s election and Sultan candidates have been busy erecting signs, launching internet campaigns and participating in forums.

The Sultan City Council has three contested races this term, Position 3 of which is being sought by Marianne Naslund and Bart Dalmasso. Dalmasso is a write-in candidate, meaning that his name will not be printed on the ballot. Citizens wishing to vote for him should write his name in manually.

Naslund purchased her home in Sultan in 1993 and has appreciated raising her children in the close- knit community. She is the administrative secretary of Sky Valley Options Alternative High School and has worked for the Sultan School District for 12 years. Naslund served as an appointed councilmember in 2011.

Nasland was named the April 2012 Reader’s Digest Hometown Hero for her work with a local teenager. Naslund works with the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce as the Sultan Summer Shindig Street Fair Coordinator each year and has done so since 1997.

Dalmasso has lived in the Sky Valley since the early 1980s and owns a real estate brokerage located on Main Street. One of Dalmasso’s main objectives is to reduce the cost of the Sultan city government and to pass those savings on to the citizens. Dalmasso served on Sultan’s Planning Commission for five years, and ran for council in 2005 and 2011.

The two answered a short questionnaire on issues impacting Sultan.

Currently, there is a lawsuit being brought against the city by a number of citizens who believe that utility funds have been mishandled. What are your thoughts on the lawsuit and the fact that citizens are alleging that the city has misappropriated funds?

Dalmasso: I am a member of the Stakeholders group, and of course I support their actions. All of us either live in Sultan and/or have businesses. It’s a shame that we citizens have to spend extra money to force the city to do the right thing. The State law says that monies from the enterprise funds cannot be co-mingled with the general fund, and must be specifically used for the purpose intended when collected. We are in this litigation because we believe the city is basically co-mingling these funds. Because of my involvement in this litigation I don’t believe I can say more.

Naslund: I had heard that the frivolous lawsuit had been thrown out because it had no merit. I had also heard that regular audits done by the state auditor’s office have not found anything to support the claims made by this group. I ask that a “loser pay” clause be included in their lawsuit so if they continue with this farce, they will have to shoulder the legal fees incurred. To date I hear in excess of $16,000 has been spent of taxpayers’ money to defend this lawsuit. What a waste of time and money for the sole purpose of generating negative publicity and personal vendettas.

The citizens behind the lawsuit make up a group called the Sultan Utility Stakeholders group. They have stated that they will withdraw their lawsuit if council approves to privatize the city’s garbage service. What are your thoughts on the privatization of Sultan’s garbage service?

Dalmasso: Much of this was answered in previous answer. However, I do believe there are usually many different solutions to situations than one. Many people don’t know I actually worked on a garbage truck many years ago. We used to go to the house and carry the garbage cans to the truck. Considering privatizing the collection of garbage I believe is a real option, and should be considered. I don’t believe just because it’s the government it should be entitled to do anything and everything it wants. I believe it should only provide a service if it can do it for less.

Naslund: As far as ultimatums go, that is sounding too much like blackmail. Since blackmail is illegal, does the Stakeholders group really want to go down that road? I’m curious to know who exactly is willing to go on the record stating they are a member of this group calling themselves the Sultan Utility Stakeholders Group. If it is only 25 people (give or take) and there are approximately 4,750 residents in Sultan, that would mean less than 1% (.5 percent to be exact) is making noise about an imaginary problem. The odds really aren’t in their favor for getting what they want. Since I have reviewed my city of Sultan residential garbage bill against a county friend’s Republic Services bill, I have determined that Sultan’s is $30.77 per month compared to their $27.58 per month for once a week pickup of garbage and recycling (excludes yard waste). That is only a $3.19 per month difference. If you break it down by week, it costs you $7.69 per week to have your garbage and recycling go away in Sultan, and $6.89 per week if you live in the county. Heck no, I’m not in support of privatizing garbage and outsourcing it. I am not dissatisfied with my level of service received from the City of Sultan so why jump ship?

In spite of the fact that the Department of Commerce elected not to officially establish the Port-to-Pass IPZ zone, the city of Sultan is continuing to move forward with the Port-to-Pass initiative and the Boomtown USA concept. Do you feel Sultan can benefit economically from these efforts?

Dalmasso: Sultan can benefit from any positive effort, including these two initiatives. Similar attempts were made before such as the Evergreen Crescent Initiative and the Mountain to Sound Initiative. Unfortunately I haven’t seen much if any benefit. That’s not to say don’t try again, maybe different leadership and different people will make it work.

Naslund: I don’t know much about the Boomtown USA concept, other than my previous opponent Geoffrey Evans was spearheading it before moving away from Sultan. I am completely in support of the Port-to-Pass Innovative Partnership Zone (IPZ) which began in 2011. The idea is to create a manufacturing environment on commercial properties along the Highway 2 corridor that allows opportunities for research and development in our backyard. It’s purely a marketing concept to attract manufacturing businesses that we think would thrive and survive in the Sky Valley, and would provide jobs that pay well above the minimum wage mark. Since the Cascade foothills offer camping, hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain and rock climbing, dirt bike riding, whitewater rafting, fishing, hunting, and target shooting, we would like to steer our economic development plan in this direction through this IPZ plan.

Should Sultan be working towards growth?

Dalmasso: YES! Without growth the city will need to increase taxes on the citizens, which I don’t agree with. If they raise taxes people will become dissatisfied with our government and leave thus moving us towards becoming a ghost town, rather than a boomtown.

Naslund: Slow and steady planned growth is better than rapid growth that infrastructure can’t support, or no growth at all. Families that move to Sultan need to have their property retain its value and a reason to stay. If there aren’t services available to fit their needs, they will go elsewhere. I want to see Sultan retain its charm while meeting the needs of the residents.

What can the city do to best support the youth in the community?

Dalmasso: A parks and recreation department, promoting the various athletic activities in our area would benefit not only the youth but all of our citizens. Issaquah is a prime example of that happening. Mr. Kerry Anderson started that department with himself and one employee, I believe in the late 60s, early 70s. Look at Issaquah now.

Naslund: I am a HUGE advocate for kids/teens but struggle with this topic. Other than providing parks, why is it the City’s job to support the youth? As a parent, I gave birth to my kids with the belief that I would be supporting them until they were at least 18 and graduated from high school. It has been my job to provide food, shelter, clothing, and an entertainment budget for them. It has been my belief system that the schools would educate them and provide them with opportunities for socializing through school sponsored events and activities. Being actively involved in the schools, I see firsthand how many events and activities happen on a nightly basis. I don’t think it should be the City’s responsibility to provide alternate activities for those who choose not to participate in school sponsored activities. I do encourage parents and kids to find a hobby and nourish it together.

How can the city best handle the issues surrounding the homeless population in Sultan?

Dalmasso: That is an extremely difficult situation. All people have rights, and we don’t want to abuse those rights. Some are homeless by choice. Some are homeless because of circumstances beyond their control. And some are homeless because of our laws, not requiring them to get mental help. Each situation would require different solutions.

Naslund: Issues surrounding transient homeless tend to lean towards mental health issues and/or drug and alcohol issues. Issues surrounding families who find themselves homeless because one or both parents have lost their jobs is a different topic altogether. I think Sultan is on the right track by hosting the Volunteers of America Sky Valley Community Resource Center and Food Bank on 1st Street.

What do you feel that Sultan is currently doing right?

Dalmasso: I believe the citizens of Sultan are doing the right thing with their many hours of volunteering. Without them much would be left undone. Three cheers for the citizens of Sultan!

Naslund: Pursuing grants for capital projects. So much groundwork gets done in Sultan because we are able to secure grants and low interest loans for the projects. I am usually amazed and in awe the high volume of grants we pursue vs. the number we are able to secure.

What is the biggest problem you feel Sultan is facing currently?

Dalmasso: Growth, actually the fact that we have not been growing. If we don’t grow, we will die. Growth needs to be handled in a responsible way, so as to not damage the ambiance of our city, or the environment.

Naslund: The negativity and misinformation being generated by the Sultan Utility Stakeholders Group!

What would you like to say to the citizens of Sultan?

Dalmasso: Obviously, I would like to ask them to write in at least my first name, BART, on position 6 in their ballot. Had not Mr. Evans withdrawn from the race, I would not be saying that. I am a Washington native. I moved up on the Sultan Basin Road in 1981 and have lived in the Sky Valley ever since. Sultan is a wonderful place to live, in spite of all the issues raised here. The people here are the friendliest and most compassionate people I have ever met. My final comment is, if it is in the phone book, the government shouldn’t do it unless they can do it for less.

Naslund: I am a servant of the people of Sultan and do not have a hidden agenda for my own personal gain. I do my research and form my decisions based on the data not on personal biases or financial reward. Actions speak louder than words so consider me and my twenty year commitment to Sultan when you vote.

]]>http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/election-2013-sultan-city-council-position-3-marianne-naslund-vs-bart-dalmasso/feed/31Election 2013: Candidates answer questions at Sultan forumhttp://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/election-2013-candidates-answer-questions-at-sultan-forum/
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/election-2013-candidates-answer-questions-at-sultan-forum/#commentsTue, 08 Oct 2013 19:30:51 +0000http://www.monroemonitor.com/?p=5313By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor The Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Snohomish County League of Women Voters partnered to host a candidate forum which was held last Thursday evening in Sultan. The event, which took place at Sultan High School, included Snohomish County Council District 5 candidates Dave Somers and Chris Vallo; Sultan City [...]

The Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Snohomish County League of Women Voters partnered to host a candidate forum which was held last Thursday evening in Sultan.

The event, which took place at Sultan High School, included Snohomish County Council District 5 candidates Dave Somers and Chris Vallo; Sultan City Council Position 6 candidates Marianne Naslund and Bart Dalmasso; Rocky Walker and Kay George who are running for Position 3; and Kenneth Marshall who is running against Bob McCarty for Position 1. McCarty was unable to attend the event. Gold Bar mayoral candidates Elizabeth LaZella and Linda Loen were also in attendance, as well as Gold Bar City Council candidates Davi Martin and Thomas Palmer, both of whom are uncontested.

Candidates were allowed the opportunity to give a two-minute opening statement, and then the forum was opened up for questions. Candidates had 30 seconds to respond to the questions.

COUNTY COUNCIL

County Council candidates Somers and Vallo were asked questions about countywide issues and also issues specific to the Valley. When asked about Sultan’s proposed gun range, both candidates expressed support.

SULTAN CITY COUNCIL

Sultan City Council candidates were given the opportunity to respond to audience questions addressed to the entire panel; candidates were not addressed individually. After their two minute introductions, they were asked for their thoughts on utility costs, garbage privatization, the proposed pedestrian footbridge, and candidate campaign signs.

Both Marshall and Walker spoke out against the current utility lawsuit being brought against the city by a group of citizens in their opening statements. Write-in candidate Dalmasso focused on his goal of lowering the cost of running city hall in his introduction, and incumbent Councilwoman George talked of her support of the group responsible for the utility lawsuit, as well as her desire to improve the state of Sultan city government.

In her opening statement, Naslund talked of her involvement with the school district, both professionally and also on a volunteer basis. Along with her husband, Naslund has participated each year in the school district’s emergency evacuation drill and has worked with local law enforcement to establish a good relationship between the east precinct and the school district.

Marshall, Walker and Naslund stood in solidarity over the issue of the privatization of the city’s garbage service and all three took a stand against it. Naslund brought up the issue of private garbage companies and the possibility of strikes. Walker took that a step further and held up an April copy of the Monroe Monitor, which displayed a story about the garbage service disruption in Monroe when Republic Services went on strike to support an Ohio labor dispute.

Dalmasso and George both were supportive of the privatization of the city’s garbage service. They agreed that garbage service through a private company would offer the citizens significant savings. George stated that privatizing garbage service through a private company would save the residents 50 percent of what they are currently paying.

Naslund disputed the idea that the city is charging double or nearly double for services that could be acquired privately for far less money.

“We are $7.69 a week and Republic was $6.89 a week. That is less than a dollar difference,” said Naslund. “I’m happy with the service I have.”

GOLD BAR MAYOR

Gold Bar Mayoral candidates Linda Loen and Elizabeth LaZella both talked of their military backgrounds in their opening statements. Loen also discussed her accounting background, telling citizens that she feels it would be a valuable asset to the city should she get elected.

LaZella cited her organizational skills, good work ethic and her strong desire to move the city forward.

“I’m running for mayor to make positive and meaningful changes,” said LaZella.

The Gold Bar candidates were asked questions regarding their strengths, the current litigation against the city, what the city of Gold Bar can do to attract more young people and minorities, city public service limitations, and ideas for developing additional revenue for Gold Bar.

LaZella advocated for new businesses for Gold Bar; a coffee or tea shop, a small restaurant or bakery.

“Something where the tourists who are coming by can stop, they can spend their money, they can spend a little time there,” said LaZella. “Something quaint.”

The topic of how to develop additional revenue for the city led to a discussion about allowing all-terrain vehicle access onto city streets. LaZella stood against allowing ATVs on the streets of Gold Bar.

“I’m kind of opposed to ATVs on our streets. I don’t think that’s a very good idea,” said LaZella. “It’s just more wear and tear on the poor little streets that we’re already trying to maintain.”

Loen was cautious on the topic of ATVs. She didn’t support the idea but also didn’t discount it completely. She supported working out a viable compromise; one that respects the privacy of the homeowners who have chosen to live in Gold Bar for its quiet and peaceful nature, and also respects the added revenue that the ATV riders can bring into the town.

“Between the two, there has to be a compromise,” said Loen.

Candidates were also asked if they had any affiliation, past or present, with Gold Bar resident Anne Block, who has been behind much of the litigation against the city.

Both candidates said that they had no affiliation to the lawsuits.

Each segment of the forum lasted 30 minutes. Approximately 50 citizens from Sultan and Gold Bar attended the forum. Also in attendance was Washington State Senator Kirk Pearson.

]]>http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/10/08/election-2013-candidates-answer-questions-at-sultan-forum/feed/12Election 2013: Dalmasso to run as write-inhttp://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/09/03/election-2013-dalmasso-to-run-as-write-in/
http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/09/03/election-2013-dalmasso-to-run-as-write-in/#commentsTue, 03 Sep 2013 21:09:52 +0000http://www.monroemonitor.com/?p=4831By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor Sultan businessman Bart Dalmasso will run as a write-in candidate for Sultan City Council Position 6, which is being vacated by Kristina Blair. The 73-year-old real estate broker announced his candidacy after Geoffrey Evans withdrew from the race. He will run against Marianne Naslund, who is the administrative secretary for the [...]

Sultan businessman Bart Dalmasso will run as a write-in candidate for Sultan City Council Position 6, which is being vacated by Kristina Blair.

The 73-year-old real estate broker announced his candidacy after Geoffrey Evans withdrew from the race. He will run against Marianne Naslund, who is the administrative secretary for the Sultan School District at Sky Valley Options Alternative High School.

This will be Dalmasso’s third attempt to win a seat on the city council; he ran against Steve Slawson in 2005 and Joe Neigel in 2011.

Dalmasso has lived in Washington nearly all his life and has been in the Sky Valley since the early 1980s. He has lived in Gold Bar, Monroe and Sultan, and served on Sultan’s Planning Commission for five years.

Dalmasso said he feels city council has been heavily weighted with government employees and would like to offer citizens the option to vote for a local businessman who has weathered a few storms in his day.

Dalmasso’s goals include determining a method of growth for Sultan which remains environmentally sound and preserves the feel of a small town; increasing new businesses in the community, as well as job opportunities; and lowering costs for residents.

“My main objective is to try and find ways to reduce the cost of our local government and pass that on to the citizens,” said Dalmasso.

The cost of government within Sultan has been an ongoing concern of Dalmasso’s, and about three years ago he was involved in creating a petition to disincorporate the city. He feels that some people may have misunderstood his motive.

“It wasn’t to tear the city up and float it down the river like many people think,” said Dalmasso. “It was an attempt to cut the cost of living in this community.”

Dalmasso wants to work to lower the costs of public utilities in Sultan. He has recently been involved in a lawsuit against the city for what some citizens feel has been the improper allocation of city funds. The citizens banded together, forming a group called the Utility Stakeholders’ Group. The group alleges that the city used money from the utility fund to pay for unrelated staff time.

Dalmasso is aligning himself politically with candidates Kay George, who is running for Position 3, and Bob McCarty, who is running for Position 1.

“All three of us are of similar mindsets,” said Dalmasso.

One thing they all agree on is the privatization of the city’s garbage service, which they feel could cut the cost of garbage service by nearly half. The Stakeholders’ Group has agreed that they would withdraw the lawsuit if council would vote to change the city’s garbage service to a private garbage collection company.

“One of the things that all of us are committed to do is resolve the lawsuit that a group of citizens, myself included, have against the city for what we believe is misappropriation of funds,” said Dalmasso.

Being a write-in candidate means that his name will not be on the ballot. Folks who wish to vote for him will need to write in his name. He is asking people to simply write BART for Position 6 on their ballots.

“Mainly I want people to get out and vote, even if they vote for my opponent,” said Dalmasso.

Editor’s Note: The Monitor will do an in-depth interview with both candidates in an upcoming issue.